"Real and painful distress": this is what every Israeli must know about post-trauma - Walla! health

2021-04-13T14:10:47.630Z

Post-trauma causes severe damage to every aspect of life, and sufferers need consistent, sensitive and prolonged assistance. Following the tragic case of Itzik Saidian, everything there is to know about post-trauma

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"Real and painful distress": this is what every Israeli must know about post-trauma

"A little more sensitivity and generosity of the state will greatly facilitate those dealing with post-trauma," says Prof. Yair Bar-Haim of Tel Aviv University, explaining how the complex syndrome is manifested in daily life, and how it can be alleviated for those who suffer from it.

"I was looking for terrorists under the bed": when the trauma becomes post-trauma

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The discourse on post-trauma arises every year around Remembrance Day, but this year it seems that the pain of those suffering from the syndrome is much clearer and more stinging.

We asked Prof. Yair Bar-Haim, from the School of Psychology at Tel Aviv University, to explain in depth what post-trauma victims are going through, and how they can be helped.

These are his answers.

How to identify post-trauma?

Post-trauma has four main characteristics: unwanted memories that recur from the trauma and are manifested in nightmares or flashbacks;

Excessive arousal and increased alertness;

Avoiding places or activities that may be reminiscent of the trauma, which causes closure;

Changes in emotion and thinking, seeing the world as less optimistic and the self as negative and less able.

How is post-trauma treated?

There are a number of treatments that have proven to be effective for post-trauma, the most prominent of which is behavioral-cognitive therapy.

At the same time, the contestants have access to medication and other psychological treatments.

The most recommended treatment for starters is cognitive-behavioral therapy, but unfortunately this treatment is also ineffective for all participants, and only about a third of post-trauma sufferers respond to it fully, so they will usually require additional treatments.

How is post-trauma expressed in daily life?

Sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder face difficulty sleeping, with intrusive memories of the trauma, flashbacks from the traumatic event, nightmares, depression, stress and anxiety.

This can lead to irritability and fatigue.

Contestants often shut themselves off due to their fear and refusal to be exposed to triggers that will re-ignite the trauma in them.

Their coping is manifested in difficulties in daily functioning, in the life of the couple, in difficulty in forming new relationships and maintaining their stability, in difficulty in working regularly, and no less importantly, in difficulty in fulfilling themselves optimally and maximally.

Do trauma victims in Israel receive adequate support?

There is no doubt that there is an effort to provide post-trauma victims with a lot of assistance, both from the authorities (Ministry of Defense and others) and from civic organizations, but often the feeling is that the support is not enough for those who need it.

Most post-trauma sufferers need complex, multi-system support, and much more than the system provides and / or is able to provide.

This is sometimes the feeling of the victims, and coping is difficult and complex and therefore requires consistent, sensitive and prolonged assistance.

Consistent, sensitive and prolonged assistance is needed.

Itzik Saidian (Photo: Official Website, Facebook)

Who helps post-trauma sufferers?

Prof. Yair Bar-Haim (Photo: Tel Aviv University)

In the high severity levels of the post-traumatic stress disorder it causes significant and high disability.

I do not know how the Ministry of Defense and Social Security calculate the disability percentages, but in my humble opinion, in a system where compulsory service takes place, the state is deeply committed to treating and supporting those who have suffered post-trauma as a result of their military service.

It seems that the whole process of recognizing and treating the victims of mental trauma feels bad and difficult for the applicants.

It is true that there are those who may be trying to deceive the system or present a difficult clinical picture of the truth, but the vast majority of those applying to the Rehabilitation Division are in real and painful distress.

The system is committed to supporting post-trauma victims because there is no doubt that anyone suffering from this disorder needs help.

The state may do much to care for the contestants, but does not always succeed in satisfying all of their needs, material and emotional.

My heart goes out to those who suffer from this disorder.

I believe that the role of the Rehabilitation Division is not just about distributing benefits, caring for patients, or accompanying the contestants along the way, but it should also be the factor that contains the contestants' anger and sense of loss.

This is a significant and not an easy part of his job in helping the contestants, and it is important that they address this.

The State of Israel has an unassailable commitment to those who have suffered post-trauma as a result of their military service, so I think a little more sensitivity and generosity will make it very easy for the contestants.

The state can increase its budgets for the issue and even facilitate the clear procedure for eligibility for benefits and assistance.

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Source: walla

All life articles on 2021-04-13

"Real and painful distress": this is what every Israeli must know about post-trauma - Walla! health

"Real and painful distress": this is what every Israeli must know about post-trauma

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